Reinforced metallic container



Dec. 17, 1968 J. R. HOENIG REINFORCED METALLIC CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 13, 1966 IINVENTOR JAMESv R. HOENIG' ORNEYS BY o/mw Dec. N, 1968 J. R. HOENIG 3,416,702

REINFORCED METALLIC CONTAINER Filed May 13, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR JAMES R. HOENIG 92 3 9O ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,416,702 REINFORCED METALLIC CONTAINER James R. Hoenig, Tinley Park, 111., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 13, 1966, Ser. No. 549,907 2 Claims. (Cl. 220-70) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a one-piece extruded metallic container having reinforcing means at a juncture of the container body and an integral end closure, the reinforcing means being defined by three annular layer portions disposed in generally parallel relationship to each other and housed completely radially inboard of the container body outer circumference.

Heretofore, most conventional metallic containers have been constructed from at least three pieces of metallic material, such as tinplate. These components include two suitably contoured closures or ends and a tubular container body provided with radially outwardly directed flanges at axially opposite open end portions thereof. One of the closures is secured to the container 'body by, for example, a conventional double seam after which a desirable product is packaged in the container and the second closure is thereafter secured to the remaining open end of the container.

Such conventional two-piece metallic containers, i.e., a separate container body and a separate closure secured thereto, are relatively inexpensive to manufacture but present numerous disadvantages which are overcome by the one-piece container of this invention. For example, the container body of conventional containers is generally constructed from a rectangular piece of sheet mate rial which is formed to a tubular configuration and the longitudinal edges thereof are secured together as by, for example, a soldering or welding operation. In containers of this type, the blanks are suitably decorated, except for the longitudinal edges which must be maintained free of any type of decorating material to achieve an effective soldered or welded seam. The absence of decorative material along the seam, therefore, detracts from the overall esthetic appearance of the container 'body, as compared to seamless container bodies of the one-piece type to which this invention is directed.

Another disadvantage of such conventional two-piece containers is the necessity of flanging each end portion and securing a closure to each end, as opposed to performing but one flanging and seaming operation to secure but one closure to a one-piece container body.

While one-piece containers possess the heretofore noted and other advantages, one disadvantage stems from the fact that such one-piece containers are generally constructed from relatively ductile material, such as aluminum, which is relatively weak and readily deformable under the influence of impact shocks or under the influence of pressure-buildup, as in the case of containers packaged with beer or similar pressurized media. Pressure within such container bodies tends to cause the bottom end closures thereof to pop to an outwardly convex configuration making it virtually impossible to stand the containers in a normally upright position.

In keeping with the above, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel one-piece metallic container which overcomes the above and other disadvantages by means of peripheral reinforcing means at a juncture of a lower end portion of the container body and an integral lower closure which serves to reinforce the 'ice container body and precludes the conventional popping of the lower closure of such conventional containers.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel one-piece metallic container of the type heretofore described wherein the reinforcing means is defined by at least three annular portions which are disposed in generally parallel relationship to each other in planes normal to the container axis with the reinforcing means underlying a portion of the lower closure to prevent accidental deformation of the container under impact loads or popping of the lower closure under the influence of a pressurized product packaged in the container.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel one-piece metallic container of the type heretofore described wherein the lower closure is additionally reinforced by a recessed central portion of the closure which augments the function of the reinforcing means in preventing the deformation of the container in the manner heretofore noted.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel method of constructing a one-piece metallic container of the type heretofore described, the method including the steps of recessing a central portion of a cup-shaped container body blank to form an axially directed peripheral bead opening toward the interior of the blank, folding the peripheral bead radially inwardly into generally overlying relationship to the end wall, and forcing the bead axially into contact with the end wall whereby the bead underlies a portion of the end wall and prevents the latter from being deformed under the influence of internal or external forces applied to the container.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view with parts broken away for clarity of a male die, and diagrammatically illustrates an initial step in forming a reinforced one-piece container of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view with parts broken away for clarity of a pair of cooperative dies, and illustrates the formation of an axially projecting bead at a juncture between an end panel and a body wall of the blank.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view with part broken away for clarity of another pair of dies, and illustrates the bead turned radially inwardly toward a position overlying a portion of the end panel.

. FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view with parts broken away for clarity of another pair of dies, and illustrates the final step of flattening the bead and forming a recessed end panel.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view with parts broken away for clarity, and illustrates another pair of dies for forming a modified end panel in another reinforced one-piece container.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view with parts broken away for clarity of another pair of dies, FIGURES l-4 of the drawings, and illustrates the final being formed in an end panel of the container.

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through a one-piece metallic container constructed in accordance with the steps diagrammatically illustrated in FIGURES 1-4 of the drawings, and illustrates the final configuration of the container.

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the one-piece container of FIGURE 5, and illustrates the final configuration thereof.

FIGURE 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken 3 through the container of FIGURE 6, and illustrates the final configuration thereof.

Referring to FIGURES 1-4 of the drawings, a onepiece metallic container body blank of a generally cupshaped configuration is illustrated being carried by a male die 11 in the direction of the unnumbered headed arrow through a cooperative female ironing die 12. The blank 10 is preferably constructed from aluminum or similar relatively ductile material which is initially impact-extruded to the cup-shaped configuration thereof and is thereafter drawn through one or more drawing or ironing dies (not shown), corresponding to the die 12. During the passage of the blank 10 through the one or more ironing dies 12, a generally cylindrical body wall 13 of the blank 10 is ironed to the desired wall thickness of the final container. At this point of the process an integral closure 14 is outwardly convexly curved and is generally complementary to a similarly contoured axial end portion (unnumbered) of the male die or plunger 11.

The body blank 10 is thereafter removed from the die 11 by a conventional stripping mechanism (not shown) and is transferred to another die 15 which is normally spaced from a cooperative die 16. With the dies 15, 16 in spaced relationship, the blank 10 is externally telescopically seated upon the die 15 in the manner readily apparent from FIGURE 2 of the drawings. The die 15 includes a generally circular recess 17 and an axially directed peripheral rib 18 which are contoured to receive a reduced circular boss portion 20 of the die 16. The distance between the outer surface of the boss portion 20 and the inner surface of the axially projecting rib 18 is sufiicient to receive the thickness of the end closure 14, as is clearly illustrated in FIGURE 2.

As the dies 15, 16 are moved relatively toward each other, the boss portion 20 contacts the end closure 14 of the blank 10 and progressively recesses a central portion 21 thereof to define an axially projecting bead, generally designated by the reference numeral 22. The bead 22 includes an outermost peripheral wall portion 23 defined by a continuation of the body Wall 13, an innermost peripheral wall portion 4 and a radius portion 25 opening toward the interior of the blank 10.

After the head 22 has been formed from the material of the blank 10 generally at the juncture between the body wall 13 and the end closure 14, the dies 15, 16 are opened and the blank 10 is removed and repositioned in external telescopic relationship to anothr die 26 (FIG- URE 3). The die 26 is similar to the die 11 but includes a relatively flat axial end face 27. The die 26 is in axial alignment with another die 28 having an annular groove 30 which opens toward the die 26. The groove 30 is defined by a gradually curved forming shoulder 31 and an annular wall 32.

As the dies 26, 28 are moved toward each other by means (not shown), the radius portion 25 of the head 22 progressively contacts the forming shoulder 31 of the die 28 and is gradually directed radially inwardly into overlying relationship to an annular portion 33 of the end closure 14. At the completion of this forming step, the wall portions 23, 24 of the head 22 are in generally contacting relationship, the head 22 is closed and the radius portion 25 thereof is in contact with the annular wall 32 of the die 28 which serves as a stop to prevent further radial inward movement of the bead 22.

The dies 26, 28 are thereafter opened, the blank 10 is removed from the die 26 and is placed in external telescopic relationship to another die 35 (FIGURE 4) having a generally circular recess 36 and an axially projecting rib 37 terminating in an axial end face (unnumbered). The die 35 is normally spaced from a die 38 which includes a reduced concave boss portion 40 and an annular shoulder 41. As the dies 35, 38 are reciprocated toward one another by means (not shown), the central portion of the end closure 14 is contoured to a generally axially outwardly opening concave configuration while the bead 4 22 is flattened against a peripheral edge portion 43 of the closure 14 by the annular shoulder 41 and the axially end face (unnumbered) of the axially projecting rib 37. The three wall portions 23, 24 and 43 thus define reinforcing means, generally referred to by the reference numeral 45, at the juncture of the body wall 13 and the end closure 14.

The dies 35, 38 are then moved away from each other, the blank 10 is removed and is subsequently trimmed and flanged by conventional means to conclude the formation of the now completed one-piece container of FIGURE 7, which is generally designated by the reference number 50.

The container 50 is illustrated in the normal upright position in FIGURE 7 of the drawings, and includes a generally cylindrical container body 51 having a radially outwardly directed peripheral flange 52 at an upper end portion (unnumbered) and an integral end closure 53 remote from the flange 52. Peripheral reinforcing means, generally designated by the reference numeral 55, correspond to the reinforcing means 45 of the body blank 10 and are defined by a multi-layer structure formed by folding the material of the blank 10 in the manner heretofore described relative to FIGURES 14 of the drawings. The reinforcing means 55 includes three annular portions 56-58 disposed in generally parallel relationship to each other with each annular portion being disposed in a plane generally normal to the container body axis and housed completely radially inwardly of the container body 51. The axially outermost annular portion 58 is joined by a peripheral radius portion 60 to the intermediate annular portion 57 while the axially innermost annular portion 56 is similarly joined by a peripheral radius portion 61 to the intermediate annular portion 57. The annular portions 57, 58 correspond to the annular portions 24, 23 of the head 22 (FIGURE 2) while the annular portion 56 correspods to the wall portion 43 of the blank 10 (FIGURE 4). The annular portion 56 is formed from a peripheral edge portion of the integral closure 53 and is joined to an axially outwardly concavely contoured central panel 62 by a peripheral juncture 63. 1

While the material of the container 50 is relatively thin, the peripheral reinforcing means 55 provides ample reinforcement of the lower end portion (unnumbered) of the container body 51 both against externally and internally applied forces. Any tendency of the central panel 62 to pop to a convex position is resisted by the reinforcing means 55 which is readily immovable in a radially outward direction. That is, without the reinforcing means 55 internal pressure would tend to expand the lower portion of the container body 51 radially outwardly resulting in the popping of the central panel 62 which is, of course, precluded by the relatively rigid nature of the reinforcing means 55 and the location thereof wholly radially internally of the container body 51.

Another one-piece metallic container constructed in accordance with this invention is fully illustrated in FIG- URE 8 of the drawings, and is generally designated by the reference numeral 65. The container 65 is substantially identical to the container 50 except for the particular construction of an integral bottom closure 66 thereof. The closure 66 includes a generally circular central panel 67 joined by an inclined annular wall 68 to an outermost peripheral end portion 70. The end panel 67 and the frusto-conical wall 68 thereby define a generally frusto-conical recess 71 opening axially outwardly of the lower end portion (unnumbered) of the container 65. The remaining unnumbered components of the container 65, including a peripheral reinforcing means 72, are identical to the corresponding components of the container 50, and a further description thereof is deemed unnecessary for a complete understanding of the container 65.

Referring now to FIGURE 5 of the drawings, the container 65 is constructed from a container body blank 75 which is initially identical to the blank 10 of FIGURE 1 of the drawings. The blank 75 is identically formed between the dies 11, 12, 15, 16 and 26, 28. However, after being formed to the configuration of the blank of FIGURE 3 between the dies 26, 28, the blank 75 is removed from the die 26 and is externally telescoped upon a die 76 which is normally axially spaced from a die 77. The die 76 includes a generally circular shallow recess 78 in axial alignment with an axially projecting boss portion 80 of the die 77. During the relative movement of the dies 76, 77 toward each other, the boss 80 urges the material of the closure 66 partially into the recess 78 to form the reinforced central end panel 67 and the annular wall 68. This same relative movement between the dies 76, 77 flattens the free unnumbered peripheral wall portions to form the reinforcing means 72. Thereafter, the body blank 75 is removed from the die 76, is trimmed and the upper end portion is flanged to form the final container 65 of FIGURE 8.

A further one-piece metallic container constructed in accordance with this invention is illustrated in FIGURE 9 of the drawings, and is generally designated by the reference numeral 85. The container 85 is identical to the containers 50, 65 except for the particular configuration of an integral bottom closure 86 which is joined to a container body 87 by peripheral reinforcing means 88 corresponding in structure and function to the reinforcing means 55, 72 of the respective containers 50, 65. As opposed to recessing the central panel of each of the containers 50, 65, a central panel 90 of the closure 86 is not recessed and is in a common plane with a peripheral end portion 91. An annular axially outwardly opening bead 92 is, however, formed in the closure 86 to reinforce the same in the manner of the end panels 62, 67.

The container 85 is formed from a blank 95 which initially corresponds identically to the configuration of the blank 10 of FIGURE 1. The blank 95 is similarly formed by the dies 11, 12, 15, 16 and 26, 28. However, after being formed between the dies 26, 28, the blank 95 is removed from the die 26 and is externally telescoped upon a die 96 (FIGURE 6). The die 96 includes an annular axially outwardly opening groove or channel 97 which is in axial alignment with an axially projecting annular rib 98 of a die 99. The dies 95, 99 are movable relative to each other in the same manner as the dies 76, 77 and during the relative movement of the dies 96, 99 toward each other, the axially projecting rib 98 urges the mate- 6 rial of the integral closure 86 into the channel 97 to form the annular reinforcing bead 92.

I claim:

1. A one-piece metallic container comprising a onepiece drawn metallic container body having axially opposite upper and lower end portions, one of said end portions being closed by an integral closure, and peripheral reinforcing means at a juncture of said one end portion and said integral closure, said reinforcing means being defined by a multi-layer structure formed by folding the material of said container upon itself, said reinforcing means including at least three annular portions disposed in generally parallel relationship to each other, an axially outermost one of said annular portions being integrally joined to said body lower end portion, an axially innermost one of said annular portions being integrally joined to a peripheral edge portion of said integral closure, radially opposed peripheral portions joining an intermediate one of said annular portions to said axially innermost and outermost annular portions, and said peripheral wall portions each being disposed normal to the container body axis and housed completely radially inwardly of the container body outer circumference.

2. The one-piece metallic container as defined in claim 1 wherein said integral closure includes an end panel, and said end panel includes a portion reinforced by outwardly opening recess means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 199,370 1/1878 Kearns 22072 1,262,766 4/1918 Foster 220-67 2,036,276 4/ 1936 Hothersall 220-72 2,337,869 12/1943 Chapman 22066 X 2,339,763 l/ 1944 Calleson et al 220 X 2,700,355 1/1955 Erb 22066 X 2,971,671 2/ 1961 Shakman 22066 3,186,583 6/1965 Zundel 22066 3,297,194 1/1967 Schaper et al. 22072 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

JAMES R. GARRETT, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 22074 

